Intent
At Wolsingham Primary School we shape our history curriculum to ensure it is fully inclusive to every child. Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for History; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that encompasses the British Values throughout; ensuring the progressive development of historical concepts, knowledge and skills; and for the children to study life in the past. We also want our children to have a good grasp of the chronology of history and therefore have shaped our curriculum to teach historical skills through the inclusion of significant historical periods from prehistorical times to present day.
At Wolsingham Primary School, we aim for a high quality history curriculum which should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Our teaching equips pupils with knowledge about the history of Britain and how it has influenced and been influenced by the wider world; know and understand about significant aspects of the history of the wider world like ancient civilisations and empires; changes in living memory and beyond living memory; learn about the lives of significant people of the past; understand the methods of historical enquiry and be able to ask and answer questions. We want children to enjoy and love learning about history by gaining knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits. We believe that History is a cumulative not hierarchical subject, therefore our aim for progression is that by the end of Key Stage 2, our children are more sophisticated in their understanding and are able to argue their historical interpretations, ready to become ‘knowledge organisers’ when it comes to the Key Stage 3 curriculum.
History in the Early Years
A historian in the early years will show an interest in their own lives and the lives of people familiar to them. They will talk about events and people in their lives who are important to them, sharing special times and events from home with friends and staff. They will talk about similarities and differences between themselves and others, among families, communities and traditions. In small world play and role play, they will imitate everyday actions and events from their family life and cultural background. They will notice different features in their environment, commenting and asking questions about the world in which they live and the natural world. Developing an understanding of why things happen and how things work. A lot of learning in the early years takes place through purposeful play, both indoors and outdoors. Towards the end of Reception children will be learning skills to equip them for their future learning and later success in Year 1.
Please see our Whole School Long term Overview and Whole School Long term Plan to see what our pupils will study during each year.
